GREAT WEST WALK
With year end creeping up way too quickly, it's time to reflect on the bucket list for 2024 and see how the 'to do' list stacks up against the 'completed' list. An FKT is one such item. We are very lucky to have ‘that friend’ for whom type 2 fun appeals and bucket lists are more than a wish list. Plans morphed, flexed, and eventually landed us both at Katoomba Station exactly one week before Christmas ready to embark on the Great West Walk.
The Great West Walk extends 134km through a kaleidoscope of varying landscapes as it winds its way down from Katoomba in the Blue Mountains past dramatic escarpments, through undulating valleys, by rivers, waterfalls, and cascades, popping out into iconic urban landscapes, protected woodlands, public parklands and some of Australia’s oldest architecture.
The heat of the day was at full throttle at 35 degrees. We opted for a 2:30pm start to minimise time exposed however there was no avoiding the first few hours. Distracted by stunning views across the Kedumba valley for 20km along the newly named Grand Cliff Top Walk, linking Katoomba to Wentworth falls along the sandstone ridgeline of the Blue Mountains. We passed through Echo Point with its famous views to the 3 sisters, Leura cascades and the Pool of Siloam, which beckoned with its fresh water cascading into a partially shaded pool of still coolness amidst the greenery of the valley floor. Alas, we push on back to the ridgeline traversing our way into Wentworth Falls. This section of the trail is brimming with beautiful. Rosellas were active in the late afternoon sun, as was a busy Lyre Bird, who pottered in the scrub before trotting down the trail before us.
The Great West Walk weaves its way up and under the railway lines, each station a mini milestone. It was not lost on us as we took the almost two-hour journey up to Katoomba that we would revisit these one by one on our way home. Crossing the Great Western Highway at Wentworth Falls it’s onto the tarmac f or the stretch into Lawson. Dusk was rapidly turning to dark as we reached The Henry for a quick feed amidst groups celebrating the festive season. Satiated and watered, head torch adorned, and we were ready for the night. Glowing snowmen, flashing lights, and neon nativity scenes guided us through Hazelbrook and into Woodford. A mix of street and trail. Out of surburbia our eyes adjusted to an eery red glow in the night sky. Too late to be the final hues of the sun we remained slightly perplexed.
Sydney’s summer is synonymous with hot days,stormy nights, and bushfire. Tonight was no exception. Forecast to hit the mountains at 11:00pm we were right on track to be on the St Helena Trail. A brief stop at Woodford to check the forecast, rest the feet, and check for any local bushfire warnings to offset our quandry on the eerie red glow, and it was all systems go. Clear on all fronts we wound our way to the St Helena Trail, deviating from the railway into the bush and amidst the orbs and deafening calls of the double drummer cicadas warning of our presence in an otherwise still and remote night. The only other souls on the trail were two, very sizeable, black, shiny funnel webs who moved with purpose across our path and a small patch of glowworms, natures festive lights, they always ignite joy.
Popping out at Glenbrook, a familiar finish line for many a hike together, we celebrated with a mini carrot cake that Lis had packed as a treat and devoured it on the steps of the station to the melodic sounds of the passing freight train (our second for the night)!
Refuelled and re-energised, yet remorseful about the opening hours of the station bathrooms, we tightened the bladders and marched forward through the streets, as dark turned to dawn to join the zig zag railway trail that would take us down off the mountain via the historic Knapsack Bridge, to the banks of the Nepean.
Laughing Boy Café perfectly positioned at the Yandhai Nepean Crossing was not long open but the crowds milled with local morning run groups, whose spritely bounce to the counter left me with a touch of envy as the signs of hours on trail began to emerge. Nothing a vanilla milkshake and some scrambled eggs can’t fix to celebrate the 70km mark and we too bounced (it’s all relative!) across the river with the morning sun on our back.
Wianamatta Regional Park would be our playground for the next 16kms, exchanging the mountains undulations for flat terrain, a mix of tarmac and trail to guide us into Ropes Crossing, named after Anthony Rope, a first fleet conflict granted land alongside the creek.
As the hours and km’s clocked up, it is safe to say, the bodily signals of wear and tear were taking their toll. Absorbing the surrounds of the parklands, changing urban features, normality of people going about their daily routine, and an unexpected motivational street art was enough to keep us upbeat and upright!
Rooty Hill was more than a mini milestone for both of us. As we stepped onto Endurance Drive, our watches tipped over 101km and we both took a moment to celebrate a new ‘first’. The longest distance either of us have completed in one stretch. How is it that amidst a 134 km journey, we would actually be on a street called Endurance Drive to mark the occasion!
Endurance events are as much about physical endurance, as mental endurance. We both love data, although both cognisant that perhaps our brain matter was not quite firing all cylinders, so breaking 134km into more palatable amounts was a constant game on trail. Two halves, broke into four quarters, broke into 3 x the ‘Bay Run’, broke into 3 x 5km plus a little 3km push. You get the picture!
Third quarter always seems to be that patch of time in an event when the excitement of the event has worn off, the goal of the midway point has passed, but you’re not yet close enough to embrace the finish line.
Western Sydney Parklands put us well into that golden phase, fourth quarter, and released an energy reserve your body keeps in store for emergency situations (aka all race finishes). At 107km down it felt a little premature, but none the less the question of ‘can we do this’ was now cemented and it would just be a case of being patient to the finish!
In and out of streets, reserves, stations, we chipped away at the distance, including a stop, dare we say it at the Golden Arches, where, over some fries and a cold drink we tended to unhappy feet and laughed at the disconnect between our current reality, and that of our surroundings.
Blacktown station, 115km. Just 3 x 5km and a push to the finish. Our body battery was the least of our concerns now as we watched the final energy drain from one phone, and two battery packs. Would we find ourselves navigating through the last 10km in the dark and in the unknown, having lost our little blue dot on Komoot that we rely (probably too heavily!) on to keep us on track?! Time would tell.
Seven Hills, Old Toongabbie, we ticked them off as the last rays of the day diffused into a second night on trail, and the heavens, having held their moisture from us, opened! With just 2 x 5km (plus that last little push) left, there we stood on the side of a major road, a bathroom stop now burningly urgent, a failing navigation device, and what we normally would consider to be a relaxing wander through the Cumberland Plains towards our final mini milestone, Westmead Hospital ahead of us.
Ironically, of the 134km, it is this patch of real estate where we both have found ourselves lost on past training runs. With its myriad of streets, buildings and sign posts that together represent the full cycle of life, it is a reminder to be grateful for the ability to walk through them, and that we were. Still smiling, and laughing at the ridiculousness of our current situation, in the comfort we soon would be home. Paramatta Park looked a little less familiar as we moved through it in the midnight hour, picking up to finishing pace (it’s all relative) down Church Street and up the steps of the clock tower in Federation Place to officially clock off! Another Type 2 adventure complete. A hug of love and gratitude for having that slightly crazy friend who just gets it, and our partners both there, in the wee hours ready to swoop us up and take us home. How lucky we are. What a way to finish 2024.
Distance: 132km. Time: 34hours 9mins.